Overview
ISO 10272-1:2017 - "Microbiology of the food chain - Horizontal method for detection and enumeration of Campylobacter spp. - Part 1: Detection method" - specifies a validated, horizontal laboratory method for detection of Campylobacter spp. in food, feed and production environments. The standard covers detection by enrichment or direct plating, and applies to products intended for human consumption, animal feed, environmental samples in food/feed production and handling, and primary production samples (e.g., animal faeces, dust, swabs).
This second edition (2017) updates procedures to improve robustness against background flora (addition of Preston broth option), includes direct plating on mCCDA, and revises confirmation tests (study of aerobic growth at 25 °C and oxidase testing).
Key Topics
- Scope and applicability: Foods, feeds, environmental and primary-production samples relevant to the food chain.
- Detection procedures: Three detection procedures (A, B, C) using enrichment in selective liquid media or direct plating on selective solid media.
- Selective media options: Inclusion of Bolton broth and an alternative (Preston broth) to address resistant background flora; direct plating on mCCDA as an option.
- Isolation and confirmation: Isolation on selective agar followed by confirmation steps - colony selection, morphology and motility examination, oxidase activity, and aerobic growth assessment at 25 °C. Optional species identification includes catalase, hippurate and indoxyl acetate tests.
- Performance and validation: The document defines performance characteristics (sensitivity, specificity, LOD) and includes interlaboratory study results and validation guidance in annexes.
- Quality and safety: References for media preparation and performance testing (ISO 11133) and mandatory laboratory biosafety practices; work must be performed by skilled microbiologists in properly equipped labs.
Applications
- Routine testing in food and feed microbiology laboratories for surveillance, batch release, and outbreak investigation.
- Environmental monitoring in food processing plants and primary production farms (e.g., testing swabs, dust, and faecal material).
- Regulatory compliance and verification testing by public health agencies and third-party auditors.
- Method selection and laboratory accreditation where a harmonized, horizontal Campylobacter detection method is required.
Who should use this standard
- Food and feed microbiology laboratories
- Quality assurance and food safety managers in food production and processing
- Public health and regulatory laboratories
- Laboratory accreditation bodies and method validation specialists
Related standards
- ISO 6887 (sample preparation)
- ISO 7218 (general microbiological requirements)
- ISO 11133 (culture media preparation and testing)
- Other parts of the ISO 10272 series (enumeration methods and guidance)
Keywords: ISO 10272-1:2017, Campylobacter detection, food microbiology, enrichment method, mCCDA, Preston broth, Bolton broth, horizontal method.
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